The short review

[Laura2592]

Do you read into this at all? The two or three word review? 

I have a neighbor who is a new host and the first few reviews she got were one and two words. The star ratings were good but the reviews don't say much. We have occasionally gotten these, and in our case, they have been from guests who had some kind of issue. Likewise, when guests aren't awesome, I have seen a lot of "good guest" or "great stay" or "friendly."

Is a short review code for a so so experience? Or is brevity the soul of wit?

[Ann783]

I haven’t given or received a “short review.” On it’s face, it strikes me as disrespectful and dismissive (but maybe I’m overreacting).

As a guest, I use the review to assist the host AND future guests. There are often great tidbits of tourist info or fun facts left in a review. 

[Laura2592]

@Ann783 I personally read these as being the same as "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything." But maybe that isn't fair. Guests and hosts have the option of not leaving a review at all. 

[Ann783]

@Laura2592 . Exactly. I've had guests who followed all the rules, left our home clean but didn't want to host again. I left no review.

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  I think it could be either. Not much good to say, but didn't want to say anything bad, or simply someone who isn't wordy, like we are 🙂

Some people love the opportunity to give their opinion of things publicly, going into excruciating detail, like aspiring travel writers. Others aren't like that at all. And we all know how lengthy the review form is for guests, asking them scores of questions about their stay, the amenities, etc. By the time they get to the actual written review, I can totally understand them writing, "Fine" and being done with it.

It's like hosts who are accustomed to getting reviews that are detailed and effusive and loaded with praise. If they then get what I call an "objective" review,  where the guest just states things in an impersonal and concise way, i.e. "Comfortable bed, clean, close to shops and public transport, all as described.", they think something was wrong, just because the guest didn't gush.

It's just different writing styles and/or how a guest views writing a review- very personal or just the facts.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Laura2592off site hosts give and get short reviews all the time. There is not much we can say about a good guest ( communicated well, arrived on time, left the place clean and that's it) .

Reviews we get are also short bc our guests usually stay very short (2-4 nights) and book our place based on the central location/free parking/budget-friendly price/number of beds..... and not because the apartment itself is a great/unique place to enjoy a vacation.

And, guests often write a review on their mobile phones, while they are still traveling, .Writing on the phone is a pain, I am always super short

[Huma0]

@Branka-and-Silvia0 

I think you're probably right. I never get or give these one word reviews, I guess because I am a homeshare host and usually have a lot of interaction with my guests, even when I was hosting short term stays. Most of my guests' reviews are at least a few sentences long and I think the shortest one was "Lovely&cozy stylish place!" which was fine by me as it came with a 5* rating. 

I do sometimes wish that hosts would leave slightly more detailed reviews though. I know it's hard if you don't have much to say and everything was fine. However, some other hosts just leave the most generic, short reviews when there were actually issues. Those are not at all useful.

A recent guest had several good reviews, but after chatting with her about her previous Airbnbs, it became clear that there had been issues between her and the host on several occasions - each time when renting a complete unit rather than staying at a homeshare.

I could interpret that the issues arose either from her asking the hosts for things that were not included in the listing or helping herself to stuff that was not meant for guests. Still, nothing about this was mentioned by any of the hosts that reviewed her. I was prepared and expecting someone a bit high maintenance, but only because I had read the reviews that she had left for hosts. How would you review a guest like this, e.g. one who kept bugging you asking for extra things ? Would you mention anything about it?

That time, it was no big deal, but I once hosted a couple with numerous, positive but mostly generic reviews. They turned out to be my worst guests of all time. I cannot believe that previous hosts had not experienced any problems with them as they were a complete nightmare, yet there was no indication in the reviews...

[Sarah977]

@Huma0  "How would you review a guest like this, e.g. one who kept bugging you asking for extra things ? Would you mention anything about it?"

For sure. I'd  say something like, "XX seemed to expect that she could ask me to provide anything she happened to want or need even though it was never offered in the listing information."

[Huma0]

@Sarah977 

I don't know. That seems a bit harsh, if the guest was otherwise nice, clean etc. Then again, she was staying with me so I got to know her, whereas the other hosts didn't. 

Perhaps something like:

"So and so was clean and tidy (or whatever was positive). She communicated with me regularly, but did seem to expect a lot of things that were not listed in the amenities."

and then some private feedback along the lines of "It's important to read the list of amenities carefully. If something is not listed, it's best to assume that it's not offered at the accommodation, and therefore it's not appropriate to ask the host for it."

[Z-2]

@Laura2592 I am thinking it might be because the guest is from VRBO. In VRBO review, it always a title first, like "great stay" or "summer vacation", then a real review description. I have a guest write me a short review but a longer review in private message to me (sound like a review). He is first time Airbnb but rent vacation houses many times before. He told me he stayed at our house before (through management company).

[Richard2388]

Hi fellow hosts…happy 2022!

I personally would not read into a short review with any preconceived negative connotation. I have had some short ones that were impressive. I think given the culture and etiquette orientation of some folks, they would rather use a few powerful words then to elaborate. If the ratings were good…I say rock on! 

[Sarah977]

I think wasting mental energy and brain cells trying to guess, wonder, or interpret why someone left a short review is pointless. 

[Richard2388]

Agreed 😉

[Dora486]

Shortest review I’ve had was a 5 star with the comment Best… I’ll take that!

[Beth80]

I read, receive and write short reviews.

The shortest I've recieved was one word. "Otimo!"

Better than nothing. 

The weirdest was" don't be afraid to stay here"  That's all he wrote. 🤔

Since I'm lazy and write most of my reviews in Portuguese I have about 4 standard ones saved. Unless there was something that stood out positively or negatively, That's all they get. 

Since we live or die by reviews I take them semi- seriously . Also knowing that the review rarely tell the whole story.